By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
East Arkansas Community College will be the site of the 30th annual First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas Circuit Seminar on Friday.
The seminar will provide six hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours to practicing attorneys in the First District and other districts around the state.
The day-long event will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. and will continue at EACC until 4:40 p.m. It is sponsored by Circuit Judges Ben Story, Kathleen Bell, L.T. Simes II, Baird Kinney and Harvey Yates. There will be several topics covered such as agricultural law and post conviction alternatives.
Many speakers will also be on hand, including Chris Morledge and Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice-elect Jim Hannah.
Story provided some information about the history of the seminar and what is scheduled for this year.
According to Story, the seminar began in 1974 through the efforts of Chancellor Richard McCulloch of Forrest City and Chancellor George Cracraft of Helena. In its beginnings, the session was a gathering of local attorneys to update their skills and expertise through the Socratic method.
The Arkansas Supreme Court first mandated in 1989 that each practicing attorney holding an Arkansas law license receive 12 hours of CLE certification each year. The First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas Circuit Seminar has received certification for CLE training every year since 1989. Story stated that he believes that the program is one of the longest running CLE-approved programs in the state.
Story said that at last year's seminar, 87 attorneys attended, most from the First Judicial District, but some from other districts. Story explained that while it is called the "First Judicial District" seminar, attorneys from across the state do attend to reach their required CLE hours for the year.
Coinciding with the seminar on Friday is a visit to the St. Francis County Courthouse from Chief Justice-elect Hannah and J.D. Gingerich, the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The visit will begin with a tour at 10 a.m. of the court facilities. Meetings with all of the court staff and a meeting between judges and elected officials will follow.
The purpose of this meeting is for both Hannah and Gingerich to hear ideas from local people about problems facing the state and suggestions for improvement in the state court system. It is also designed to share information from the Supreme Court and AOC.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Thanksgiving Day is a little more than a week away and the St. Francis County Food Pantry, located at 122 South Water Street in Forrest City, is gearing up for its busiest time of the year.
The pantry accepts donations all year to distribute food to those in need, but it is during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas that the organization is in the most need of monetary and food donations.
"With Thanksgiving next week, and Christmas around the corner, the pantry will be giving out a lot of food to those in need," said Catherine Freeman, the director/founder of the SFC Food Pantry. "During Thanksgiving and Christmas, we give out a lot of food. Last year, we fed 800 some odd families during Thanksgiving. It is hard to tell exactly how many people we feed because some people take the food home with them, but we are here to feed as many people who need or want the food. We never want to see anyone go without food, especially during the holidays."
According to Freeman, six area churches have signed up with the pantry to serve food for Thanksgiving. Those churches are: Lane Chapel, 821 West Scott; Madison Light in Madison; Salem Baptist, 105 Haven; Prosperity Baptist, 6893 SFC 224; New Light Baptist, 126 West Day and First Baptist, 306 East Cross. She added that any other churches interested in serving meals should contact her.
Freeman stated that those meals are only made possible through donations from area citizens and the pantry is in desperate need of donations.
"We are in need of donations very badly," said Freeman. "At Christmas, we make up boxes of food for those who need it as well. To provide food at Thanksgiving and Christmas, since they are so close together, is hard and we need donations. This is our busiest time of the year, but after the holidays are over, we are low on food because we have given so much out.
"I want to remind people that donations to the food pantry are tax deductible," added Freeman. "We can give you a receipt for the donations of money or food items. Just tell us that you want a receipt and we'll give you one."
Anyone interested in making a donation to the pantry, receiving food or any church which would like to be added to the list to distribute food for Thanksgiving, may contact Freeman at 633-6255, Thomas Jones at 945-0612 or Lula Clay at 633-3382.
A man with a history of driving drunk was sentenced to six years in the state penitentiary during circuit court pleadings this week at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Larry French, 63, pled guilty to his fourth offense of driving while intoxicated before Judge Harvey Yates.
French was arrested by the Wheatley Police Department in March last year and charged with his fifth offense DWI, driving on a suspended driver's license and no driver's license. All of those charges were merged into one count of an amended charge of fourth offense DWI for which French was sentenced to six years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
In other circuit court proceedings Wednesday, charges of transporting drugs were nolle prosequi against one female suspect, while her partner was fined $5,000 in the same case.
Christina Chacon Williams, 33, and Yvonne Chacon, 35, both of El Paso, Texas, were arrested in April last year after troopers with Arkansas State Police Troop D in Forrest City stopped the vehicle they were driving on Interstate 40 near Forrest City.
During a search of the vehicle, police found several bags of marijuana, totaling 45 pounds, inside a suitcase and two wrapped presents. Troopers also confiscated about $1,400 in cash.
Both were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
The St. Francis County Museum Board welcomed a new member and heard updates at their regular meeting held earlier this week.
Dr. Amanda Clifton was introduced to the board as their newest member. Clifton is a professor at East Arkansas Community College and replaced Randy Jones on the board. Jones had served on the board since 1995.
Museum director Laura Mazzanti updated the board on several events concerning the holiday season.
Mazzanti stated that the Christmas Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. She also said the museum will again serve as a drop-off point for the Toys for Tots program, and the Angel Tree is scheduled to be decorated on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Selection of angels from the Angel Tree will begin on Monday, Nov. 29.
Another note concerning the holidays presented by Mazzanti was that pewter ornaments featuring the Rush-Gates home, where the SFC Museum is located, are on sale at the museum for $10. The museum will also order afghans to be sold at the museum. The afghans are expected to arrive on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Before adjourning, Mazzanti gave an update on the renovations taking place at the facility. She stated that workers have finished the frame work for enclosing a portion of the front porch. She added that painting is also being done on the exterior of the building.
A junior high school student was arrested Wednesday morning after marijuana was found inside his shoe.
A principal at Forrest City Junior High School called police to the campus after he found a small amount of marijuana in the student's possession, according to a report on file at the Forrest City Police Department.
Officers responding to the call about 11 a.m. were talking with the 15-year-old juvenile when they noticed a piece of plastic sticking out of his shoe. When the officer pulled on the plastic, a small bag of marijuana came out. According to the police report, the student had a total of 12.3 grams of marijuana in his possession.
Police also asked the student if he had sold the marijuana to anyone at the school, and he offered the names of two other students. Police searched both students but were unable to find any drugs.
The 15-year-old juvenile is charged with possession with intent to deliver near certain facilities. He is scheduled to meet with juvenile officials on Monday.
A public housing resident was arrested Wednesday night after police executed a search warrant at her home in the Rice and Mann Housing Development.
Stacy Gates, 25, who lives at 936 Mann St., Apt. 219, was arrested on variety of charges after police searched her home about 7:45 p.m. During the search, police reportedly found 13.8 grams of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $86; drug paraphernalia and a loaded .25 caliber pistol inside the apartment.
A child was also inside the home, but was released to a family member.
Gates is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver near certain facilities, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Gates was being held in the St. Francis County Jail pending her arraignment this afternoon in St. Francis County District Court.
Students attending the Forrest City School District and Calvary Christian Schools will be out all week next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, while students in other areas of the county will have to attend classes a couple of days.
Although students won't be in class, teachers in the FCSD are scheduled to attend staff development programs on Monday and Tuesday, but will be off Wednesday through Friday.
Those attending classes in the Palestine-Wheatley and Hughes school districts will be out of school Wednesday through Friday.
Students in each of the four schools will resume classes on Monday, Nov. 29.
Checks are ready for poll workers in the Nov. 2 general election.
Kelly Lewis, chief deputy treasurer in the St. Francis County Treasurer's office, said poll workers can pick up their checks at the courthouse through Friday. On Monday, the checks that have not been picked up will be mailed.
"Those who are receiving checks can stop by the treasurer's office in the courthouse between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday," Lewis said.